Friendswood’s Roads and Trucking Traffic Increase Crash Risk
Friendswood’s location between Houston and Galveston places it along major trucking corridors. Commercial vehicles regularly travel I-45, FM 2351, and Bay Area Boulevard, moving cargo between industrial hubs, refineries, and the port. Growth near Clear Lake, Forest Bend, and West Ranch has added to traffic, putting more residents in close contact with heavy trucks.
Many of Friendswood’s surface roads weren’t designed for a high volume of large vehicles. Tight intersections, short access ramps, and busy commuter routes create situations where a truck driver’s mistake quickly becomes a danger for nearby cars.
When a crash happens, trucking companies and their insurers respond within hours. Some send representatives to call the injured driver before the police report is finalized. They may ask for a recorded statement or offer a quick settlement. These early moves can harm your claim, especially if you don’t yet know the full extent of your injuries.
You don’t have to speak with them. A Friendswood truck accident attorney can step in to protect your interests and manage those conversations while you focus on recovery.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Friendswood
Many truck crashes around Friendswood are linked to pressure within the trucking industry. Investigations often uncover problems like:
- Fatigue from overnight runs on I-45, where drivers push beyond their legal hours. Slowed reaction times and drifting lanes are common warning signs.
- Blind spots leading to side-swipe collisions on feeder roads and during merges on FM 2351 or Bay Area Boulevard.
- Wide turns at intersections near schools, retail centers, and construction zones, where trailers cut into oncoming lanes or clip nearby cars.
- Unbalanced or overloaded cargo that destabilizes the rig during braking or turning.
- Mechanical failures from skipped maintenance, such as worn brakes or tires, can magnify small errors.
- Weather and speed issues along open stretches of I-45, where rain or glare leads to missed exits and delayed stopping.
- Driver distraction inside the cab, whether from phones, navigation screens, or other devices, causing missed signals and rear-end crashes.
Our team investigates by pulling data from the truck’s black box, driver logs, GPS records, inspection history, and company files. These materials can reveal safety violations that prove liability.
Trucking companies defend themselves from day one. Call (832) 690-7000 or message us online to speak with a Friendswood truck accident lawyer before making any statements or signing documents with an insurer.
Injuries After a Truck Wreck in Friendswood
Collisions with 18-wheelers usually lead to injuries far more serious than those in typical car wrecks. Common outcomes in Friendswood truck crashes include:
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Spinal cord damage, herniated discs, or nerve injuries;
- Multiple fractures and orthopedic surgeries;
- Internal bleeding and organ trauma; and
- Burns, scarring, and disfigurement;
For many survivors, the ER visit is just the beginning. Ongoing treatment, rehab, and time away from work can stretch over months or years. These long-term needs should be reflected in your claim, not just immediate medical bills.
A Martindale-Nolo survey found that people who hired a lawyer after an accident recovered nearly three times more compensation than those who went through the process alone. For anyone dealing with the aftermath of a truck crash in Friendswood, that kind of difference can ease the strain of medical bills and time away from work.
Compensation a Friendswood Semi-Truck Accident Attorney Can Pursue
After a truck crash, your recovery may involve far more than paying initial medical bills. Texas law allows you to seek compensation for:
- Emergency treatment and hospitalization;
- Rehabilitation, prescriptions, and follow-up care;
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity;
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress; and
- Permanent scarring, disability, or reduced quality of life.
Texas applies a modified comparative fault rule. If you are less than 51% responsible, you can still recover damages, though your percentage of fault reduces your award. Trucking companies use this to try to shift blame early. An experienced Friendswood truck accident attorney knows how to counter these tactics.
Pierce Skrabanek has secured multimillion-dollar results in trucking cases, including a $2 million settlement for a commercial driver hit by another truck and a $565,000 recovery for a woman struck by a truck that ran a stop sign.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Friendswood
Your actions immediately after a wreck can affect both your health and your case. Steps to take include:
- Get medical treatment immediately, even if symptoms seem minor.
- Call the police and request a report.
- Stick to facts when describing the crash; don’t speculate.
- Decline recorded statements from insurance reps.
- Take photos of the vehicles, scene, and injuries.
- Save all records, bills, and notes on time missed from work.
- Protect your rights by contacting a Friendswood truck accident attorney who can secure black box data and other evidence before it disappears.
How Texas Trucking Laws Affect Your Case
Commercial truck drivers and their employers must follow both federal and Texas safety rules. These laws regulate:
- Hours of service limits,
- Daily inspection and maintenance requirements,
- Cargo weight and load balancing,
- CDL licensing and training standards, and
- Drug and alcohol testing for drivers.
Records like logbooks, black box data, and maintenance reports can show where a trucking company failed to follow safety rules.
Timeline for a Truck Accident Case in Friendswood
Many clients want to know how long it will take to resolve their case. In Friendswood, truck accident cases may take several months, depending on:
- How quickly injuries can be fully diagnosed,
- The time needed to collect and review trucking records, and
- Whether the case settles in negotiations or proceeds to trial.
“When someone comes to us after a truck accident, they’ve usually already been through the hardest days—pain, confusion, and not knowing what’s next. What I want them to feel in that first meeting is that they’re not alone in figuring this out anymore.”
— Paul Skrabanek, Founding Partner.